Chapter 4 - The Burning House
The intense heat of the growing inferno instantly scorched the oxygen out of the lavish living room.
The remaining wealthy guests panicked blindly, coughing violently as thick black smoke aggressively filled the air.
Adrian struggled against his heavy zip-ties, his wrists bleeding as he fought desperately to break free.
He spotted a jagged piece of a shattered crystal vase resting just a few inches from his boots.
He awkwardly rolled his beaten body across the burning carpet, ignoring the searing pain in his ribs.
Adrian grabbed the sharp glass shard and began sawing frantically at the thick plastic bindings.
The zip-ties finally snapped, and he immediately rushed to help the trapped guests escape the deadly trap.
He used a heavy iron fireplace poker to completely shatter the reinforced glass of the rear patio doors.
The terrified guests poured out into the cool night air, gasping desperately for clean oxygen.
As Adrian turned to follow them, he heard a muffled, agonizing scream coming from beneath a fallen, burning wooden beam.
Vanessa was trapped underneath the fiery debris, her legs completely pinned as the flames inched closer to her face.
Her father had ruthlessly abandoned her in the fire to eliminate all possible evidence of his horrific crimes.
Vanessa coughed violently, begging Adrian to save her despite everything she had done to his family.
Adrian stared at the wicked woman, his heart burning with a fierce desire for absolute vengeance.
But he knew he could not simply let a human being burn alive in front of him.
He rushed back into the collapsing room, lifting the burning beam with an incredible surge of adrenaline.
Vanessa dragged herself free, sobbing in agonizing pain as her expensive dress smoldered.
Adrian grabbed her arm and practically threw her out of the shattered window just as the entire roof completely caved in.
They collapsed onto the wet grass of the backyard, watching the massive mansion burn entirely to the ground.
Vanessa looked at the man who had just miraculously saved her miserable life.
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She choked back a sob and whispered that she owed him a debt she could never truly repay.
Vanessa looked deeply into Adrian's eyes and confessed that Mia was not actually his biological daughter.
